SINGAPORE -- Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners and its joint venture partner Turkish Airlines Technic Inc., announced that its engine overhaul facility in Turkey will be located at the Sabiha Gokcen Airport on the Anatolian shore of Istanbul. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. company. Turkish Airlines Technic Inc. is a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines.

The newly selected site will provide sufficient area for planned activities, expansion to accommodate future growth, and direct access to customers via air transport. The joint venture facility, to be named Pratt & Whitney Turkish Technic Aircraft Engine Maintenance Center LLP, will overhaul V2500 and CFM56 engines. Construction will begin later this year and the first engine is expected to be inducted in 2009. Once fully operational, the center will be capable of overhauling up to 200 engines per year and will employ Turkish Technic's experienced staff. Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners and Turkish Technic signed the joint venture agreement last month in Istanbul.

"Selection of land for the new engine maintenance center with our partner Pratt & Whitney is completely in line with Turkish Technic's strategy as it is also in the same location that Turkish Technic's new airframe maintenance facilities will be built," says Dr. Ismail Demir, general manager, Turkish Technic. "Sabiha Gokcen International Airport is Istanbul's second international airport and has a great potential for growth."

"Sabiha Gokcen Airport is conveniently located near customers in Europe and the Middle East," says Jim Keenan, senior vice president and general manager, Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners. "Turkish Airlines and other operators in the region will benefit from the world class CFM56 and V2500 engine overhaul and repair services that this new facility will offer."

Turkish Technic Inc., is the leading maintenance service organization in its region, providing MRO services for Boeing and Airbus airframe, engine, auxiliary power units, landing gear and components. Turkish Technic serves airlines in Europe, the Middle East, Northern Africa, Turkey and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), with its maintenance base in Istanbul and workforce of more than 3,000 personnel.